From Oct 20-26 I spent the week in the RC retreat center in Bethesda, Maryland with 45 other women from multiple places in Canada and the United States. What did we all have in common? Besides our love for the Lord, we have been entrusted with a mission: the mission of accompanying others in their spiritual journey. I say accompanying, because while we are spiritual guides, it becomes more and more obvious that the one guiding is the Holy Spirit. We help one another discover where God’s light is shining for them to see and take the step towards the Father’s open arms. This month, the spiritual direction course was holding its third (out of five) modules. The theme: Grace & Virtue.
It began with Dr. Steve Grundman providing a foundational concept of Christian morality. He helped us to reflect on concepts about God, freedom and moral growth that could either inhibit or propel us towards greater fulfillment in the Christian life. After providing context for virtue as a means for true freedom, Rebecca Teti and Fr. John Hopkins offered us a reflection on each of the cardinal and theological virtues, as well as humility and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Personally, this course renewed my own enthusiasm for growing in virtue as a means for deeper union with Christ, as well as gave insights and tools for helping others discover patterns of thought, emotions or behaviors that inhibit greater freedom in the living of their Christian vocation to holiness. It also illustrated a grace-filled and virtue oriented life and means to collaborate with God’s grace in the formation of virtue.
But from all the content that I received, perhaps the greatest take-aways were:
1) I love Regnum Christi! Thank you Lord for the gift of each one of these people who are striving to love and serve the Lord. More than being told what virtue looks like, I was witnessing it incarnate in the lives of each one.
2) Thank you Lord for the gift of formation that the Movement is offering me. Here I give thanks to those making the effort to constantly provide solid, deep and applicable material for our own personal growth and apostolic service to the Church.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FUTURE TRAINING COURSES for Spiritual Direction CONTACT LUCY HONNER AT rcspirituality@gmail.com
